Electric switch.



E. R. HAMILTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION PIL ED DEC, 29, 1911.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

m mv & xi I 1 V E. R. HAMILTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 29, 1911.

Patented Mar.4,1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

E. E. HAMILTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 29, 1911.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fzven zw fldward imrg E. R. HAMILTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.29, 1911.

1,055,035, Patented M21124, 1913.

6 QHEETS-SHEET 4.

g 7 f? I V I N V: :l w i 4 E. R. HAMILTON. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 29-, 1911.

1,055,035, Patented Mar.4, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. R. HAMILTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 29, 1911.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

dwamzlzzm iz an,

to the dash-board EDWARD R. HAMILTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Application filed December 29, 1911. Serial No. 668,562.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. HAMIL- 'roi\', a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

It is desirable in'many situations where electric switches are employed that provisicn be made for the locking of the movable members of the switches in any given position, either on or off, against actuation by any other than an authorized person, and to prevent the switch-contacts from be1ng. accessible when the switch is locked, it bemg more es cially desirable that such lockingmeans employed in connection with switches used for controlling the ignition circuits of internal-combustion engines on automobiles, lighting circuits and circuits for power devices.

My object is to provide improved lockingmechanism for switches which shall operate to prevent actuation of the switch and access to the switch terminals, excepting by one having authority.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated some of the various forms in which my invention may be embodied. the variety of switch illustrated being that used for controlling the circuits of ignition systems of internal-combustion engines as commonly used on automobiles, Figure 1 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of a switch-device shown as secured of an automobile and constructed in accordance with my invention, for controlling the ignition system of'the internal-combustion engine of an automobile. the section being taken at the lines It on Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a section taken at the lines 2 on Figs. 1 and 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a section taken at the line 3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig". t is a section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the switch-mechanism of Fig". 1, this view being taken at the line 5 on Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a broken section taken at a line corresponding to the line 1 on Fig. 2, of a modification ot the construction shown in the preceding figures. Fig. 7 is a broken view in elevation of the constructicn illustrated in Fig. 6, this view being taken from the right-hand side of 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections taken at the lines 8 and 9 on Figs. 9 and 8 respectively, and viewed in the direction of the arrows of another modification of my invention. Fig. 10 is a view. in sectional elevation of still another modification of my invention, the section being taken at the lihe 10 on Fig. 11, and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figs. 11 and 12 are sections taken at'the lines 11 and 12 respectively on Fig. 10 and viewed in the'direction of the arrows. Fig. 13 is a broken view of a portion of the removable cover for the switch-mechanism of Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a view in vertical sectional elevation'of another modification of my invention, this view being taken at the line 14 on Fig. 15 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 15,- a broken View in front elevation of the construction illustrated in Fig; 14.

In the accompanying drawings, a support, as for example the dash-board of an automobile, is represented at 20 to which the switchmechanism, hereinafter described, are secured.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. the plate of insulating material which is equipped with the electric contacts 21. 22. 23. 24. and 25 to which the wires (not shown) of the ignition system of an engine are connected. is represented at 26. as secured to the dash-board 20 through the medium ofscrows 27. The plate 26 contains a bushing 28 provided at its outer end with an annular flange 29 which seats against the outer 'face of the plate 26. brush-member. represented at 30, ot'the switch is provided with an actuating-handle 31 having a head 32. A bolt 33 extends through the head 32. the member 30 and bushing 28, and fits at its square head in a similarly-shaped recess 34 in the head .32, this bolt being journaled'in the bushing 28 and provided with a nutat its opposite screw-threaded end which screws against a washer 36 surrounding the bolt 33 and hearing against an end of the bushing 28. The member 30 and handle 31 are secured together by means hereinafter described. whereby the member 30 may be rotated through the medium of the handle 31 for causing the ends of the member 30 to engage with opposed ones of the contacts 21 and 25 inclusive on the ,plate'QG. Cooperating with the lever 31 is locking mechanism 35 for releasably locking this lever in a predeter- Thc movable mined position, in the construction illustrated the locking mechanism 35 operating to releasably lock the lever 31 in neutral position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the switch is open. The locking-means illustrated comprise a lock-barrel 36 prov ded on its inner end with a tongue 37 whlch fits into a groove 38-in the head 32 extending transversely of the latter; a lock-casing 39 in which said barrel is rotatably confined, said casingbein g'provided with lugs 40 vat which it is secured to the plate 26 as through the medium of machine-screws 41, which carry spacers 42; and key-actuated tumblermechanism, hereinafter described, which operates to releasa'bly lock the barrel 3.6 to the casing 39 and consequently said brush-member 30 and lever 31 against rotation, the member 30, handle'31 and lockbarrel 36 being connected together through the medium of machine-screws 43 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The type of lock shown is that commonly known as the. Yale lock, each tumbler of which, represented at 44, is divided transversely into two sections, these sections being longitudinally movable in slots 46. and 47 in the barrel 36 and casing 39, respectively, the tumbler-sections 44 in the slots 47 being backed up by springs 45. The relative positions of the slots 46 and 47- and the relative length of the tumbler-sections 44 are such'as to cause these tumbler-sections to be moved against the action of the springs to a position in which the dividing lines between the tumbler-sections 44 will be coincident with the dividing line between the barrel 36 and the casing 39, when a key such as that represented at 48 is introduced into the key-Way 49 and engages at its serrations 50 with the ends of thetumbler-sections 44. extending into the key-way 49, as illustrated in Fig. 1. With the tumblers 44 in the position referred to, the barrel 36, actuating lever 31 and member 30 may be swung backfand forth, but when the key 48 is removed from the key-way 49, the,

springs 45 will cause the tumbler-sections 44 to beshifted from the-position illustrated in Fig. 1 to a position in which the joints between them will be non-coincident with the -dividing line between the barrel 36 and the casing 39, the tumblers thereby locking the barrel against movement.

The operative parts of the switch are housed-within a cover 51 which may be secured to the dash 20 as through the medium of screws 52 extending through openings in a flange. 53 on the coverg said cover containing a central opening 54 into which the reduced outer end 55 of the barrel 36 extends. A segmental section of the'cover is-cut away through the body-portion of the cover and the flange 53, as represented at 56, to afiord a slot 57 through which the switch-arm 31 extends as represented in Fig. l, the switcharm being provided with a spring-detent 58 which yieldingly bears against an edge of the cover and is adapted to spring into any one of the recesses 59, 60 or 61 therein for holding the switch-arm in position against accidental displacement when the latter eX tends opposite these recesses, the detent 58 springing out of said recesses upon the act of manually swinging the arm 31, the shoulders represented at 62 and 63 on the cover and located at the ends of the cut-away portion 56 thereof extending adjacent to the ex treme end-walls of the recesses 59 and 61. The plate 26 containsin its outer face diametrically-opposed arc-shaped slots 64 which throughout a greater portion of their length are of T-shape in cross-section, as represented in.Fig. 1', each of said. slots 64 containing an enlargement 65 at one end, one of these enlargements extending into a position, in which it will be'covered by the switch-arm 31 when the latter isin neutral position as illustrated in Fig. 3.. The cover 51, is equipped with diametrically-opposed pins 66 having heads 67 which are adapted ,to be introducedintothe slots 64 at the enlarged portions 65 thereof when the arm 31 is swung to the right in Fig. 3,.and interlock at their heads 67 with the contracted portions of these slots when the cover 51 is rotated on the plate 26 to the right in Fig. 3, the position to which the cover 51 should be rotated to properly position it on the plate 26 being that'illustrated in Fig. 3, in

which the recess 60 opposes the arm 31 when the latter is in neutral position and the shoulders .62 and 63 lie in such positions as will permit the arm 31 to be swung into engagement with any of the contacts 21 to 25 inclusive.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the cover 51 may be applied to the plate 26 only when the switch-arm 31 is moved, after being unlocked, to a position in which the enlarged portion 65 of the slot 64 adjacent to this arm in Fig. 3 is uncovered, as by swinging the arm 31 to the right in said figure. ,Thus when the arm 31 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, namely neutral position, in which. it is locked by the locking mechanism described, the cover '51 can not be rotated on the plate 26 sufficiently far to cause the heads 67 of the pins 66 to register with the slot enlargements 65, because the shoulder 63 on the cover 51 will strike the switch-arm 31 before the heads 67 are moved into re istration with the slot enlargements 65, and the switch-arm 31 being locked against actuation the cover 51 can not be removed and access be' gained to the interior mechanism ofthe switch or the electrical terminals thereof, excepting by the insertion into the key-way 49 of a key 48 suitable for unlocking the barrel 36 from its casing 39.

\ If desired, the screws 52 may be omitted,

51 111 late F as g8 i th eri 111 the h condition A 3 n i shape ermn 74 and 75 d eut of thereto only e'siie Cove? be unlecke t0 the inched, When ed "from the the D 31 his cks the barrel 3% of a and are s 1m 31, 74 and 7 5 to n the arm 37 41 8 s 76 an the arms 0 be move relative utter being eonsti-uetimi illustrated 76 and 77 are in Fi 8, the switch-a s to cause the cams the Whe I1 (1 W. 8), inw anism i0 39, and can 0111 1011 of the key of the lock, the flange it -:1rn1 31 t g position ight in Fig placed a is the same as 13-; S. 1 to 5 1110111 1 10015211 this construe ith a ter'vv'eit V ges ositio casing e lnsert d to perm he switch removed and ye Fig as to the feature 0 1 11:11 i mange 1 eng lust-rated relative to ppin when the arm 31 moved to the 1' e se' flail litre] p the iocking mesh he h ay 0 dispose of t gee 76 and 77, the cover The 0 .13 inclusive rate J1 in sitien. formed W til ovei'l arms 7% and 75 are disen flan reethl;

men 111 51 nder vihen the tion ii1us th re, pin to t in the by t eat the acins 6G eprepin he re? rm 31 entiire ewiteh- :11 there '1 p10- eat-11 ire by pref cover eeds 6'7 is figu g a hen the g the 51 may h it may he Figs. 6

its h 7 p051 in mprlsin 51 idingiy e 26 under plate W liCh the p s 64 1 rawin in trated in the to th the remev instead pi.

vide

s are late 2 inch he t s Wi red 1 -s ,L L ts igh the shit thd the cover 26 when t Fig 111g mean 6 P ion in w 1e openings 6,

t0 yie the plat b 011 thi tion 111 11s in By W1 in W ht in iihistl'as that 11 GUY eiitin ution gums,

for holding the g on th osi [:11 t1 (1 out of t y mounted in a slot pted in 2 itio 3. he recess 26,

ion plate 1 ctio-n s exceptin :oiis'trh 211111 cciipe 1 to the 1' ade the is swan" t0 the r are 111 0r prev this in which case 1001: enoe, provided against turnin hrations, to a p 7 arm 31 is move treted in Fi the locking means shown 51 i'eciprocabl 10 cover 51 and into :1 recess 26 tion of a spi" (-m'er 51 is in :1 p051 occupy the pos 1y, sented in Fig. 51 from t turned to a posit moved from b The constru and '2" is the same a preceding fig of securin i ee'hanism 1 110m. In

' the 510 '1 ti 5 will register s, v ,L '1 1 W 11 11 3 111th .i'ieutmi position with the 111 she meshzmism the cove the sever tion "Wit 3; pin

e cover e iOCk-x, 1

L {u 4 m1 eti an th YE ice str ' lthcirm /n and. "otetie'n ned t0 pesition tieii iihis a '1 240" as he sirable feature, as each locl: constructed may a pin 82 secured to the casing 39 of the lock I 35 and extending into a recess 83 on the I cover 5i when the latter is positioned on the dash 20, this pin by extending into the slot l 88, preventing the cover 51 from beingrol tated for moving the slots 71 therein into registration with the arms 70, which latter occupy a position at angles to the slots 71 as illustrated in Fig. and described of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, when the l barrel 36 of the loci: is locked to the casing I 39 thereof in which position of the lock the switch-arm 31 is in neutral position. l It will be observed that in each of the constructions illustrated, the switch-arm 31 I is locked in neutral position through the medium of the lock and can not be swung either to the right or to the left to rotatel the brush ot' the switch until a key hav l ing the proper formation is inserted intol the key-way ll) of the lock-barrel 36 for: moving the locletumblcrs el-l to a position i in which the barrel 36 of the loci: is released from the casing 39 thereof, this being a de- 1 be so formed as to require a key 48 of different formation for operating it. Furthermore. it will be noted that in each of the r constructions illustrated the cover 51 for the switch mechanism, which must be removed in order that access be gained to the terminals of the switch, is locked againstremoval and can not be separated from the switch-mechanism until the lock has been operated to more the tumbler-seek to a position i. which the barrel 36 may be turned in he casing 39.

it will be understood that if desired, the arrangement of the locking mechanism relative to the movable switch-member as for example, the brush 30, may be varied as desired to lock the in table switch-member in ny other desired position relative to the electric contacts 21 to inclusive of the switch instead of locking the switch-member 30 in neutral position in which the current is shut oif, such arran cement as will be manifest to those skilled in the art, being apparentand desirable where the switch is used for controlling electric lig ts or power dei'i es where it is desired to either lock the current on or or supply to a power device a certain amount of current. Under such conditions, ll. it is desired that the cover of the switch be locked against removal when the switch is locked, the position of the locking devices for holding the cover again t rem as will be manifesh locking of the cover.

d/hat l ai oral would be altered. efiect such required cover, for releasably locking said rotatable member of the switch in a predetermined position, the stationary member of said lock being carried by the body of said switch, an actuating device for said rotatable member secured thereto and extending beyond said cover, and means for locking said cover againstrernoval when the rotatable member of said switch is locked.

2. ln an electric switch, the combination with its rotatable member and a cover for the switch, of an actuating device for said rotatable member secured thereto and er;-

tcnding beyond said cover and a lock mounted on the body of the switch and separate from said cover for locking said cover against removal when said rotatable member of the switch is in a predetermined position.

3. In an electric switch formed of relatively movable members one of which is retatable, the combination of a lock for releasably locking the rotatable member of the switch in a predetermined position, the stationary member of said lock being car ried by the body portion of said switch, a cover for the switch, an actuating" device for [said rotatable member secured thereto and extending beyond said cover and means for releasably locking said cover against removal when said rotatable switch member is locked, said first-named lock being separate from said cover. v

in an electric switch formed of relatively movable members one of which is ro tatable, and a cover, -of an actuating device for said rotatable member secured thereto and extending beyond said cover, a lock, separate from said cover for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a. predetermined position and means for releasably locking said cover against removal, the stationary member of said first named lock being carried by the body of said switch.

5 In an electric switch formed of relatively rotatable members and a cover, of a lock on the body of the switch and separate from said. cover. for releasably locking the rotatable member of said switch in a predetermined position, and means for releasably locking said cover against removal when the rotatable member of the switch is locked.

in an electric switch formed of relatively movable members, the combination of means on the body of the switch for releasably locking the movable of said switch in a predeterined pocover 'l'i he switch separate from i cleasably interlocking with an d ns and W inen'iber of the prevent removal 3 s i ch when the n loosed 7. In an electric switch formed of relatively movable members, the combination of means on the body of the switch for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a predetermined position, a cover fc r the switch, means for interlocking said cover with the stationary member of said switch when said movable switch member is moved out of locked position, and means, cooperating with said movable switch memher, for preventing said cover from being moved out of interlocking condition relative to the switch when said movable switch member is in said predetermined position.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of a cover therefor, means on the body of the switch for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a predetermined position, means for releasably interlocking said cover in position on the switch releasable upon rotating said cover to a predetermined position, and means separate from said first-named means for preventing said cover from being rotated to a position in which said interlocking means disengage.

9. In an electric switch, the combination of a over therefor, means for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a predetermined position, means for rereasably interlocking said cover in position on the switch releasable upon rotating said cover to a predetermined position, and means cooperating with the movable member of said switch for preventing said. cover from being rotated to a position in which said interlocking means disengage when the said movable switclrmember is in locked condition.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of a cover therefor, means for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a predetermined position, means for releasably interlocking said cover in position on the switch releasable upon rotating said cover to a predetermined position, and means on said cover for engagement with the movable member of said switch for preventing said cover from being rotated to a position in which said interlocking means disengage when said movable switch-memher is in locked condition.

11. In an electric switch, the combination of a cover therefor means for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a predetermined position, means for releasably interlocking said cover in position on the switch releasable upon rotating said cover to a predetermined position, means cooperating with the movable member of said switch for preventing said cover from being rotated to a position in which said interlocking means disengage when the said movable switch-member is in locked condition, and means for holding said cover against accidental rotation on said switch.

12. In an electric switch, the combination of a cover therefor, means for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a predetermined position, means for releasably interlocking said cover in position on the switch releasable upon rotating said cover to a predetermined position, means on said cover for engagement with the movable member of said switch for preventing said cover from being rotated to a position in which said interlocking means disengage when said movable switch-member is in locked condition, and means for holding said cover against accidental rotation on said switch.

13. In an electric switch, the combination of a cover therefor, relatively-overlapping interlocking parts on said cover and switch movable into overlapping interlocking condition by rotating said cover on the switch, means for releasably locking the movable member of said switch in a predetermined position, and means cooperating with the movable member of said switch for preventing said cover from being rotated to a position in which said overlapping parts disengage while said movable switch-member is in locked condition.

14:. In an electric switch, the combination of a cover therefor, relatively-overlapping interlocking parts on said cover and switch.

movable into overlapping interlocking condltion by rotating said cover on the switch,- means for; releasably locking the movable member of said.sw1tch in a predetermined position, and means on said cover and cooperating with the movable member of said switch for preventing said cover from being rotated toa position in which said overlapping parts disengage while said movable switch-member is in locked condition.

15. In an electric switch, the combination ofa cover therefor containing an opening, an operating arm connected with the movable member of said switch and extending through the opening in said cover, means for releasably locking the movable member of said switch and said arm in a predetermined position, means for releasably interlocking said cover in position on the switch releasable upon rotating said cover to a predetermined position, and means adjacent to an end of said opening in the cover for preventing said cover from being rotated to a position in which said interlocking means disengage when said movable switch-member is in locked condition.

EDIVARD R. HAMILTON.

In presence of- A. U. THORIEN, R. A. SCHAEFER. 

